On the patrol: Delhi boy wants meaningful roles
Asmita Aggarwal
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What Crime Patrol (Sony) anchor Shakti Anand misses most about the Capital is the mouth-watering paani-puri and dhokla at Bengali Sweets. He found it tough to keep his sweet tooth in check even then and that is the case now too.
Growing up in Gole Market and studying at the DTEA School, Mandir Marg, had its benefits as Anand savoured the samosas and kachoris at the market's many sweet shops and restaurants. After school, he studied Botany through correspondence at the Indira Gandhi National Open University. "I never even thought of Bollywood. I was happy being a medical examiner at GE Capital and it was my interest in theatre that helped me bag the role of Hemant in Kyunki Saas…," recalls Anand.
Whether it's playing flight lieutenant Vikram Kochar in Saara Akash or the sutradhar on Crime Patrol, Shakti plays both with equal panache. In real life too he's not afraid of heights and Saara Akash gave him the change to interact with flight lieutenants while shooting at the Pune base. "I observed their mannerisms and added a dash of style to it for Vikram Kocchar's character," says Anand.
Given a choice, he'd do reality shows. Also any role that involves motivating people in real-life situations. "Television isn't a easy job. Working 16-18 hours in a day is gruelling. But if you love your job, it doesn't seem strenuous. In fact if I have to sit at home it gets tiring," says Anand.
So, Crime Patrol, with a section on real-life heroes, is one such serial that educates people about crime. Plus the celeb section gives you tips on safety. "Hemant may not be the conventional hero but Crime Patrol is a reality show. So it undertakes an important social responsibility," says Anand.